National Poetry Month

In honor of National Poetry Month, I am going to share some of my poetry. These are some of my favorites that I wrote back in college when I majored in writing.



Sleeping Beauty

By day she walks the streets
and even on the hottest days of summer
she wears a long black wool coat
and wrapped around her neck, a heavy scarf
that must have once been
a shade of white,
and a gray hat pulled down to her brow,
a seafarer braving a storm.

She stands on the corner of Congress Street
screaming of sin and evil.
Not preaching – – but an angry protest
to anyone who will listen.
She tells of hate – –
her hate of you,
a complete stranger.
She carries a Bible
tucked under her right arm
but never opens it,
clutching it's worn cover
as though ready
to use it any time.

But at night when she has finished
her bitter tirade,
she must sleep, as we all sleep.
And, if dreams that made
to rest our minds,
I hope dreams
are of Greek islands
and gentle Angels.


From the City


She left the city
to find truth
beyond skyscrapers
with shiny windows
reflecting the blurry image
the people rushing by,
somewhere beyond the limits
of subways
speeding through dark tunnels.
buried beneath the crowded streets.
She drove until she could no longer see
the tallest building on the horizon
looming in the rearview mirror.
She drove until she breathed fresh air
and the trees were not placed
on every corner,
but grew tall and thick
in forests.
She saw no people,
only signs of their existence
in lean-tos built
in a small clearings,
and clothes drying
on ropes tied between two trees.
She saw unfamiliar animals
walking gracefully through open fields.
From a hill,
she overlooked a pond,
the water still and glassy.
She ran down the hill
holding her arms out
to keep balance.
Sitting on a log,
she leaned over the calm water
like a portrait,
only she was smiling.



Homophobia

At your trial
the prosecution
uses the witnesses to show
you have no morals.

Your parents say
they think
they
did something wrong.

A fat woman stands
and says
there's nothin' a woman
can do for me
that a man can't.

A man wearing
tight Wranglers
proudly states
that all you need
is a good fuck.

A precher says
that AIDS
was sent
to kill
you off.

The jury frowns,
believing that
you are
unnatural-
the Bible says so.

Your only defense is
"I love her."